Machine for attaching gummed labels to envelopes and the like



Aug. 29, 1961 s. GREEN ETAL MACHINE FOR ATTACHING GUMMED LABELS TO ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed June 22, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 m 3 mm i ATTOPA/EY Aug. 29, 1961 s. GREEN ETAL Y MACHINE FOR ATTACHING GUMMED LABELS T0 ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed June 22, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 UN w m s\\\\kk \\k\k kr 6 mm W Y f L V o m m 1961 s. GREEN ETAL 2,998,153

MACHINE F OR ATTACHING GUMMED LABELS TO ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed June 22, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 S/EGFE/ED GREEN PHIL/P NOVACK INVEN TORS ATTOE NE Y 9, 1961 s. GREEN ETAL 2,998,153

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING GUMMED LABELS TO ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed June 22, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I? I m & \J

Q g: I 6756:1250 GEEEA/ @fiL/P A/avqcK IN V EN TORS Aug. 29, 1961 s. GREEN ETAL 2,998,153

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING GUMMED LABELS T0 ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed June 22, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 S/EQFE/ED qB- PH/l/P NOVACK INVENTORS BELS TO ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Aug. 29, 1961 s. GREEN ETAL MACHINE FOR ATTACHING GUMMED LA Filed June 22. 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 m K WC m w FP GU m 5P INVENTORS ATTOENEY United States Patent 2,998,153 MACHINE FOR ATTACHING GUlVIMED LABELS T ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Siegfried Green and Philip Novack, Brooklyn, N.Y., as-

signors to Adex Development Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 22, 1959, Ser. No. 821,742 7 Claims. (Cl. 216-53) This invention relates to labelling machines and is particularly directed to a machine for automatically locating, moistening and afiixing gummed labels, and similar articles to envelopes, or other flat objects.

A primary feature of the invention is that the individual label and the envelope, or other article to which the label is attached are automatically simultaneously moved into their required relative position, the label being forced against the envelope and attached thereto.

While machines for this general purpose are available, they are generally quite large and expensive, and also extremely delicate to operate and adjust, so that highly skilled operators are needed to adjust and operate the machines.

Another feature of the construction is that it is readily adjustable to accommodate a wide range of lengths and widths of envelopes, or similar articles, and is adapted to convey and position a wide range of sizes and types of labels for attachment to the envelopes.

Another feature of the apparatus is that it is adapted to receive and accommodate a wide range of thickness and texture of envelopes, so that envelopes containing material inserted therein, or of multiple thicknesses, or made of relatively heavy paper can be fed through the machine without special adjustments.

A major feature of the device is that the individual labels are automatically removed and selected from a stack of labels, the gummed surface thereof uniformly moistened, moved to the required position relative to the envelope or other object, and pressed against and attached to the envelope.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a machine which can be operated by relatively unskilled personnel.

A further object is to provide a machine which can readily be adjusted to receive and feed a wide range of sizes, widths, thicknesses and textures of envelopes, or similar articles, without requiring special tools or skills on the part of the operator.

Another object is to provide a machine which is relatively inexpensive to build, the parts being relatively inexpensive and easily adjustable to suit particular operating requirements.

A further object is to provide a label feeding device, which will select an individual label from a stack, moisten the gummed surface of the label and position the label relative to the envelope, or other article to which it is attached. 7

Another feature of the device is that the portion of the apparatus which feeds the envelope to the attaching position is synchronized with the mechanism for locating the labels, so that the labels are accurately positioned relative to the envelopes, the rate of movement of the labels being accurately synchronized With the rate of movement of the envelopes, so that the labels are accurately and uniformly attached to the envelopes.

A major feature of the apparatus is that it is adapted for use in oflices and relatively small mercantile or in: dustrial establishments, so that personnel who are primarily engaged in other types of activity, may set up, adjust and operate the device for a portion of the day, so that no specially trained or special operators are necessary.

2,998,153 Patented Aug. 29, 1961 lot:

The accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, and several modifications thereof, together with the description of their construction and the method of operation, control and utilization thereof, will serve to clarify further objects and advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through the right-hand or label-feeding portion of the machine, showing the method of feeding and transferring the labels and envelopes relative to one another, with an individual envelope and a corresponding label shown in the label affixing position.

FIG. 1a is a portion of the vertical section of the machine shown in FIG. 1, showing the envelope supply hopper, and the timing belt for transferring and synchronizing an individual envelope to the label-attaching position shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus, shown in FIGS. 1 and la showing the relative positions of the envelope hopper and the label feeding hopper.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the envelope and label conveyor timing belts, shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a, and the label feed hopper, shown in FIG. 1, the section being taken on the line 3-3, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the label moistening roller shown in FIG. 1, and the support rod for supporting the roller from the frame of the machine, taken on the line 4-4-, FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the label supply hopper, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the blade provided to separate the lower label from the supply stack.

FIG. 6 is a right-hand side elevational view of the label supply hopper, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, showing the method of supporting the hopper from the machine frame.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the label supply hopper shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is a vertical section, similar to FIG. 3, through the conveyor timing belts and the flat pads attached thereto, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the section being taken on the line 8-8-, FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a schematic front elevation of a portion of the label feed hopper shown in FIG. 1, and a portion of the upper conveyor belt, showing the means of separating and removing the lower label from the stack of labels in the label hopper.

FIG. 10 isa plan view, similar to FIG. 2, of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, particularly the moistening roller and the belt driving the moistening roller.

It will be understood that the following description of the construction and operation of the automatic gummed label feeding and attaching machine is intended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the various views, except where otherwise indicated.

One embodiment of the construction shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is supported by a front panel 10, and a rear panel 11, which are substantially parallel to one another, as shown in FIG. 3, the panels being held in parallel rela tion .to one another by a plurality of studs or spacers 12, as shown in FIG. 2.

A belt drive shaft 14 is mounted between the panels 10 and 11, the ends of the shaft being supported by a pair of ball bearings,.or other type of anti-friction bearings 16, 17, each of which is supported by a hollow cylindrical boss 18, 19, each of which is integral with one of the panels 10, 11.

An auxiliary or upper belt drive shaft '21 is mounted substantially parallel to the drive-shaft 14-, the auxiliary drive shaft 21 being similarly supported by a pair of antifriction bearings 16a, 17a, each of which is supported by a hollow cylindrical boss 22,23, each of which is integral with one of the panels 10, 11, in the same manner as the lower bosses 18, 19.

The lower drive shaft 14 is driven by an electric motor 25, supported by one of the panels, the end of the shaft of the motor having a worm 26 mounted thereon, which meshes with a worm wheel 27 mounted on the drive shaft 14 concentrically therewith and fixedly attached thereto. The worm and wheel combination reduces the speed of the motor shaft to the required speed of the lower drive shaft 14.

The upper timing belt drive shaft is driven from the lower drive shaft by a pair of gears 28, 29, each of which is fitted and fixedly attached to one of the drive shafts 14, 21 concentrically with the respective shaft. The ratio between the gears 28, 29 is 1:1, so that the upper drive shaft is driven at substantially the same rotational speed as the lower drive shaft 14. Each of the gears 28, 29 is locked to the respective drive shaft 14, 21 by a set screw 30, or other suitable locking means. Each of the drive shafts 14, 21 has a timing pulley 32, 33, fitted thereto, approximately at the center thereof, between the front and rear panels 10, 11. Each of the timing pulleys has a plurality of radially positioned teeth 34, 35, integral with the outer circumference thereof, to receive and drive the corresponding cleats of a timing belt, which is fitted thereto in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Each of the timing belt drive pulleys 32, 33 is fixedly located relative to the corresponding drive shaft 14, 21 by a set screw 37, or other suitable locking means.

A long lower timing belt 38 driven by the timing pulley 32 is fitted over the pulley 32, and a driven pulley 39, located near the opposite end of the panels 10, 11, the driven pulley 39 being substantially parallel to the drive pulley 32. The pitch diameter of the teeth 40 surrounding the driven pulley 39- is subtsantially the same as that of the drive pulley 32 so that both pulleys 32, 39 are rotated at substantially the same speed, and in the same direction. An intermediate idler toothed pulley 41, is mounted on a shaft parallel to the lower drive shaft 14, the pulley being substantially parallel to the driven pulley 39, as shown in FIG. 1a, to provide an intermediate support for the upper section of the lower timing belt 38. The inner surface of the lower timing belt has a plurality of substantially trapezoidal cleats 42 integral therewith, the gaps 43 between the cleats being of substantial-1y the same width and contour as that of the teeth 34 surrounding the timing pulley 32, so that the cleats 42, the pitch of which is substantially equal to that of the spaces between the teeth of the timing pulley 32, mesh with the spaces between the pulley teeth 34, thereby driving the lower timing belt at substantially the same lineal speed as the circumferential speed of the pitch line of the timing pulley 32'.

A portion of the outer surface of the lower timing belt, which is aligned with one of the envelopes 44, to which a label is to be attached, has one of a pair of substantially fiat pads 45, 45a attached thereto, the pads being made of rubber, or other readily compressible material, to enable the pad to grip an envelope 44, or other fiat object located thereon during the label pressing operation. The position of the two pads relative to the circumferential length of the outer surface of the lower timing belt is such that they coincide with the relative rate of movement of the timing belts 38 and 50, and the co-ordination of the relative position of the lower belt 38 with an envelope 44, or similar object which is supported and transferred thereby. The outer surface of each pad has a plurality of corrugations or serrations 46 integral therewith, the corrugations facilitating the gripping of the evelope 44. The corrugations 46 may be of V-shaped cross-section, or other suitable cross-section, depending upon the type of paper,or other material of which the envelope or other object is made, the surface speed of the timing belt- 38 and the texture of the ma- 4 terial of which the envelope is made. Both ends of each of the pads are sloped 47, 47a, as shown in FIG. 1, to facilitate removal of the lower envelope from the stack of envelopes supported in the envelope hopper 48 in a manner hereinafter described.

A shorter upper timing belt 50, driven by the upper timing pulley 33, is fitted over the upper timing pulley 33 and a mating driven pulley 51, located substantially parallel to the upper timing pulley 33. The spacing between the upper driven pulley 51 and the upper drive pulley 33 is considerably shorter than that between the lower timing pulleys 32, 39, the actual spacing between the pulleys, being determined by the relation between the length of the outer surface of the upper or label support belt relative to the lower or envelope support timing belt 38. In the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a, the outer surface length of the upper timing belt makes two complete revolutions for each full revolution of the lower or envelope support timing belt.

This enables the lower timing belt to transport and deliver two envelopes to the label clamping position for each full revolution of the lower timing belt. In this construction, each upper timing belt is so constructed as to make two full revolutions for each complete revolution of the lower timing belt 38, a label 53 being deliveredto the clamping position during each full revolution of the upper timing belt, co-ordinated with the delivery of each envelope 44. A flat pad 54 formed of rubber, or other suitable compressible material is located adjacent the outer surface of the upper timing belt 50, the leading portion of the pad-54 being affixed to the outer surface of the upper timing belt, the balance of the pad being free, as shown in FIG. 9, and hereinafter described in greater detail, the location of the flat pad 54 relative to the upper timing belt being such as to enable the pad partially attached to the upper timing belt to deliver a label 53 to the clamping position shown in FIG. 1, in the required position relative to the envelope 44, delivered by one pad of the lower timing belt, so that the label, or other article to be attached to the envelope is located at its required position, relative to the ends of the envelope 44. The outer surface of the pad 54 is corrugated 55 in the same manner as that of the corresponding surface of the pads attached to the lower timing belt '38 to facilitate gripping the smooth or ungummed surface of the label 53. The leading edge of the pad 54 has a flat insert 56 of a plastic material attached to the outer surface of the timing belt 50, the outer surface of the insert being relatively smooth and flat, to enable the insert to slip over the ungummed surface of the label, the corrugated portion of the pad locating the leading edge of each label relative to the corresponding edge of the envelope to which it is to be attached.

A ramp 57, forming a relatively small angle with the outer surface of the upper timing belt 50 is formed at the leading edge of the insert 56, to facilitate clearing the ungummed surface of the bottom label when the insert approaches the stack of labels supported in the label hopper 65.

Similarly, a second insert 58, made of a smooth surfaced plastic material is located beyond the trailing edge of the upper pad 54, the insert 58 being attached to the outer surface of the upper timing belt 50 in the same manner as the leading edge insert 56, the outer surface of the insert being relatively smooth to avoid gripping the ungummed surface of a second label, when the trailing edge insert passes the label hopper 65. The trailing edge insert has a relatively short chamfer 60 at the free end thereof to avoid interference with the ungummed surface of the label 53 when the insert passes the bottom of the label hopper 65.

The inner surface'of the upper timing belt 50 has a plurality of trapezoidal or other form of cleats 61 in' tegral therewith, or attached thereto, in substantiallythe same manner as the lower timing belt 38, the gap 62 between the cleats fitting the teeth 34 surrounding the outer circumference of the upper drive pulley, thus enabllng the cleats 61 of the upper timing belt, the pitch of which is substantially equal to that of the spaces between the teeth of the timing pulley 3, to mesh with the spaces between the pulley teeth 35, thereby driving the upper timing belt at the same lineal speed as the circumferential speed of the timing pulley 33, and as the rotational speed of the upper drive pulley 33 is substantially the same as that of the lower drive pulley 32, thereby gygncggonizing the lineal speed of the two timing belts The gummed labels 53, which are attached to the envelopes 44, or other objects, when the envelopes are fed between the two pads 45', 54 attached to the timing belts 38, 50, are supported in a hopper 65, such as that shown at the right-hand side of FIG. 1. A weight 66, which is fitted to the interior of the hopper, presses against the stack of labels within the hopper to force the labels against the bottom of the hopper whence the lower label in the stack is removed by the serrated pad 54' attached to the upper timing belt, in a manner shown in FIG. 9, and hereinafter described in greater detail.

In order to separate the bottom labels from the stack, a sharp edged blade 67, having a substantially triangular pointed tip 67a integral therewith, is located in the hopper adjacent the outer or right-hand end of the labels 53, the tip of the blade 67 being adapted to slit the bottom labels, and retain in the hopper all except the bottom label, which 1s removed therefrom by the serrated pad 54 attached to the upper timing belt 50 in a manner hereinafter described. The label 53 is fed along the upper timing belt 50 by the pad 54 partially attached to the upper timing belt, with the gummed surface of the label located above the corrugated face of the flat pad 54.

In order to moisten the gummed surface of the label 53 to be attached to an envelope, at moistening roller 69, such as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, is mounted adjacent the left-hand end of the upper timing belt.

The moistening roller 69 consists essentially of a hollow cylindrical body 70, with two substantially circular caps 71, 71a attached to the ends thereof. The caps 71, 71a, which support the roller, are mounted on a long cylindrical shaft 72 having threaded ends, the shaft 72 being rotatably supported by the front and rear panels 10, 11 of the machine, the axis of the roller shaft being substantially parallel to that of the driven pulley 51.

A plurality of moistening rings 74, 740: formed of a moisture absorbent material, such as felt or a similar composition, which is adapted to retain moisture, is attached to the outer circumference. of the roller body 70 adjacent the central portion thereof, the width of the moistening rings from one end thereof to the other being greater than that of one of the labels 53 fed from the hopper 65 to enable the moistening rings tov engage the label 53 over a major portion of its entire width. The portion of the label between the two moistening rings 74', which is relatively narrow is not moistened, except for the moisture, which seeps through between them. For narrow labels the two moistening rollers 74, 74!: may be moved closer together, thereby eliminating entirely any gap therebetween, and moistening the label over its entire width.

A plurality of substantially radially positioned openings 75, 75a is cut through the outer wall of the roller body 70, in substantial alignment with the moistening rings 74, 74a, in order to feed water, or other liquid from the interior of the roller to the moistening rings 74, 74a.

The diameter of the moistening rings surrounding the roller body is such that the outer circumference of the moistening rings engages the gummed surface of a label fitted to the flat pad 54, thus enabling the moistening rings to moisten the gummed surface of the label 53, when the pad 54 is rotated into a position at which it is aligned with the roller 69.

In order to drive the label moistening roller 69 and co-ordinate the rotation of the roller with the surface movement of the upper timing belt 50, a belt 76 of substantially circular cross-section, made of rubber, or a similar material, is provided to drive the moistening roller 69. A pair of guide pulleys 78, 79, which are supported by the two panels 10, 11 of the frame, is provided to tension the circular belt 76. The upper guide pulley 79 which is supported by a pair of bosses in the frame panels is mounted above the upper timing belt 50.

The lower guide pulley 78, which supports the lower portion of the circular belt 76, is mounted near the outer surface of the portion of the upper timing belt in engagement with the circumferential surface of the driven pulley 51 of the upper timing belt 50.

The semi-circular grooves surrounding the guide pulleys 78, 79 are so positioned that the arcuate lower portion 80, of the circular belt 76 is in engagement with the outer surface of the upper timing belt 50 at substantially the center of the flat pad 54.

The outer surface of the moistening rings being driven at substantially the same surface speed as the outer surface of the pad 54 located adjacent the upper timing belt, during the portion of the travel of the upper pad 54, when it passes the outer quadrant of the driven pulley 51 of the upper timing belt.

During the portion of the path of the upper timing belt, when the outer surface of the upper pad 54 engages the circumferential outer edge of the circular belt 76, the circular belt is forced out of the position shown in FIG. 1, while the upper timing belt, with the pad 54 attached thereto, passes this section of the circular belt 76.

When the circular belt, is moved out of position by the pad 54 the outer edge of the circular belt 76 is moved closer to the area of the moistening roller body 70 between the moistening rings 74, 74a.

When this movement is completed, a gap still remains between the outer edge of the circular belt 76 and the circumferential outer surface of the body of the roller 69 so that this portion of the circular belt 76 has no effect on the rotation of the moistening roller 69.

After one of the labels 53 fed from the hopper 65, in a manner hereinafter described, is picked up by the pad 54, a portion of which is attached to the upper timing belt 50, the label is carried along by the corrugated outer surface of the pad 54 until it reaches a point at which the upper serrated surface of the pad 54 engages the lower portion 76a of the circular belt 76. This section 76a of the circular belt, which extends from the guide pulley 79 to the outer surface of the portion of the upper timing belt, which surrounds the driven pulley 51, is sloped relative to the timing belt, from a point in engagement with the timing belt to the portion engaging the pulley 79, which is located a distance from the timing belt 53.

This enables the pad 54, with one of the labels fitted to the outer surface thereof, to pass under the circumferential outer surface of the circular belt 76, the circular belt 76 retaining the label 53 in contact with the serrated outer surface of the pad 54, while the pad 54, with a label fitted thereto, follows the path of the portion of the timing belt fitted to the driven pulley 51, until the leading edge of the insert 56 located adjacent the end of the pad 54', which is attached to the outer surface of the upper timing belt, reaches a position leftward of the location shown in FIG. 1, at which point the leading edge of the pad 54- and the insertmounted adjacent the pad 54, engages the outer surface of an envelope sup ported by one of the. pads 45, 45a of the lower timing belt 38', the serrated outer surfaces of the two pads 45, 54 gripping the envelope, and retaining the moistened label in, continuous engagement with the outer surface of the envelope 44. As the surface speed of the upper tim- 7 ing belt is synchronized with that of the lower timing belt 38, this label 53 is retained in its correct alignment relative to the envelope during the entire period through which the label is in engagement with the envelope 44.

The relation between the pad 54, the leading portion of which is attached to the upper timing bolt 50, and one of the pads 45, 45a attached to the lower timing belt, is such that the label 53 is properly positioned relative to the envelope 44 to which it is to be attached, during the entire period through which the label is pressed against the envelope 44f The continuous pressure between the serrated surfaces 'of the two pads 54 and 45, while the envelope and the label 53 are fed between them, forces the moistened gummed surface of the label into positive engagement with the envelope, thus positively attaching the label to the envelope 44. 1

After the envelope 44 with the label attached thereto is carried to a point at which the flat portion of one of the lower pads 45, 45a, reaches a position at which the pad 45, 45a follows the arcuate contour of the drive pulley 32, the envelope 44 is fed through the gap 82, between the two guides 83, 83a supported by the frame at the righthand end of the machine, thus discharging the envelope 44- with the label attached thereto.

The lower label of the stack is pressed against the open lower portion of the hopper, which extends beyond the bottom shelf 73 thereof, shown in FIG. 7.

The blade 67, which is located adjacent the right-hand portion of the hopper, slits the rear portion of the bottom label and grips the labels located immediately above the bottom label, the bottom label assuming a tilted position relative to the top of the pad 54, as shown in FIG. 9.

While the leading portion of the pad 54 in engagement with the outer surface of the upper timing belt, is fixedly attached to the outer surface of the upper timing belt, the trailing portion of the pad 54 is left free of the timing belt in substantially the position shown in FIG. 9.

When the pad 54 reaches the lower label 53 in the stack, the ramp at the leading edge, right-hand, of the insert fitted to the pad, and the smooth portion of the insert 56 located adjacent the pad 54, allows the insert to elevate the free edge of the bottom label and locate it in a position in substantial alignment with the serrated top of the pad 54.

As the serrated portion of the top of the pad 54 reaches the bottom label 53 at the bottom of the stack, the combination of the weight above the stack of labels and the corrugated surface of the upper pad 54 grip the leading portion of the bottom label, and retain it in engagement with the upper pad 54.

-As the rotation of the upper timing belt continues, the unattached or trailing edge of the pad 54 is slapped against the exposed or ungummed surface of the bottom label 53.

This detaches the label from the blade 67, and withdraws the lower label from the hopper, even under conditions in which the outer surface of the pad 54 is moistened by direct contact with the outer surface of the moistening rings attached to the moistening roller 69.

The envelope hopper 48 shown in FIGS. la and'2 is adjustable, so it can accommodate and feed a wide range of widths and lengths of envelopes 44.

The envelope hopper includes a rear wall 84 of relatively thin sheet metal, and a side wall 85, against which the envelopes 44 shown in FIGS. 1a and 2 are stacked.

As shown in FIGS. la and 2, the front and rear panels 110, 11 are attached to one another by a plurality of spacer studs 12 and 86, one of which is located adjacent the left-hand end of the panels shown in FIG. 2.

An adjustment bar or stud 87 is attached to the rear wall 84 of the envelope hopper, in a position substantially parallel to the spacer stud 12.

- The adjustment bar has a pair of thin fiat washers or locators 88, 88a of tapered oval contour, as shown in FIG. 1a, pivotally attached thereto, one of the locators 88 being located near the front edge of one width of envelope 4'4, to support and guide a narrow envelope 44, such as that shown in FIG. 2, a nut 89 threadably fitted to the cylindrical adjustment stud being adapted to clamp the locators 88, 88a between the front and rear spacers, and in that manner control the width of the envelope 44-, which may be fed from the envelope hopper 48. A tubular spacer 77 is fitted to the adjustment bar 87, between the loeators 88, 88a, to locate the washers or locators in either the position shown in FIG. 1a, or another adjusted position.

A second locator, or washer 88a is located adjacent the outer end of the adjustment bar, to space and locate wide envelopes when they are fed through the machine. In order to support wider envelopes in the envelope hop per 48, feed them to the clamping position, and to feed one of the wider envelopes through the machine, the inner locator 88 is rotated, so that the longer section thereof is directed downward, thus allowing the wide envelopes to be fed to the label clamping position. A pair of tubular spacers 77, 77a is inserted between the rear wall 84 of the envelope hopper and the inner locator 88 and between the inner and outer locators 88, 88a, respectively, the spacers being fitted to the adjustment stud 87, and adapted to clamp the inner locator 88 between the tubular spacers 77, 77a, the outer locator 88a being clamped against the outer or forward spacer 77a by a nut, or other suitable means threadably fitted to the threaded outer end of the adjustment stud 87.

As shown in FIG. 1a, a portion of the lower end of the right-hand side Wall of the envelope hopper, is wrapped 90 around a stud 91, which is mounted between the panels 10, 11 of the apparatus. The distance between the bottom edge of the wrapped portion 90 of the right-hand wall 85 of the envelope hopper and the top of the lower timing belt 38 is greater than the thickness of one of the flat pads 45, 45a attached to the lower timing belt 38 plus the thickness of one envelope 44, so that this surface of the wrapped portion 90 of the side wall clears a single envelope fed from the envelope hopper 64.

The lower envelopes supported in the envelope hopper 48 are angula-rly positioned relative to the upper surface of the lower timing belt 38, as shown in FIG. la.

The spacing between the wrapped pontion 90 of the right-hand wall 85 of the envelope hopper 48, which is fitted to the stud 91, and the upper surface of one of the pads 45, 45a attached to the lower timing belt 38, is such that only a single envelope thickness is permitted to pass between the wrapped section 90 of the wall and the upper surface of one of the pads 45, 45a.

.A flexible stop block 92 made of rubber, or other highly compressible material is attached to the stud 91, adjacent the right-hand edge thereof, by a screw or other suitable attaching means, the lower edge of the stop block normally clearing the upper surface of the lower timing belt 38, as shown in FIG. la.

When the leading edge of one of the pads 45, 45a attached to the lower timing belt reaches the stop block 92, the upper surface of the fiat pad grips the leading or righthand edge of the bottom enevlope 44, thereby drawing the envelope with it. The sloping leading edge 47 of the pad 45 displaces the free lower portion of the flexible stop block 92, thus allowing a single envelope to pass through the gap between the left-hand edge of the flexible stop block 92 and the top of the pad 45, 45a, thus confining the feeding to one envelope 44 at a time.

If any additional envelopes are fed to the left-hand edge of the stop block, they are prevented from passing through by both the stop block 92 and the outer surface of the wrapped portion 90 of the right-hand wall of the envelope hopper 48.

The rear wall 84 of the envelope hopper, and the righthand wall 85 thereof, which is integral therewith, or at- :tached thereto, is adjustable relative to the rear edge of 9 the lower timing belt, thus allowing for the feeding o wider envelopes, than those shown in FIG. 2.

A tubular collar 93, surrounding the spacer stud 12 and clamped thereto by a set screw 93a, or other suitable means, is located adjacent the rear wall of the envelope hopper 48, to accurately position the rear wall of the hopper relative to the lower timing belt 38.

This enables the rear edge 44a, of the envelope to be adjusted relative to the corersponding edge of the lower timing belt 38, thus enabling the rear edge of the envelope to be adjusted relative to the corresponding edge of a label 53, which is to be attached thereto, and in that manner accurately positioning the label relative to the envelope 44.

As shown in FIG. 3, the flat pads 45, 45a attached to the lower timing belt are wider than the individual pad 54, attached to the upper timing belt, thus assuring a positive base for the portion of the envelope to which the label isto be attached at all times, and under all operating conditions.

When the leading edge 47 of one of the pads 45, 45a attached to the lower timing belt, reaches the flat position shown at the top of FIG. 1, it engages the leading end of the bottom envelope, in the stack supported by the envelope hopper 48. This draws the bottom envelope 44 into the label clamping position shown in FIG. 1. The lower envelopes of the stack supported in the envelope hopper are sloped relative to the timing belt 38 to facilitate feeding the bottom envelope to the belt in the'manner hereinbefore described.

The shafts 14, 21 supporting the drive pulleys 32, 33 of the upper and lower timing belts 38, 50 are each supported by a pair of ball bearings 16, 17, or other type of anti-friction bearing, in the manner shown in FIG. 3.

The outer race of each of the ball bearings is fitted to the interior of a hollow boss 18, 19 integral with the front or rear panel respectively.

A snap-spring 97, 97a is fitted to the interior of each of the hollow bosses 18, 19, in engagement with the outer race of each bearing, to locate the outer race of the bearing relative to the inner edge of the front or rear panel 10, 11, the outer race of each bearing being clamped between the internal edge of the stop wall of the boss 18, 19, of the panel and the snap ring 97, 97a.

In order to position the two shafts 14 and 21 between the front and rear panel 10, 11, a raised stop 98, 99 is integral with the outer wall of each panel, each stop being co-axial with the corresponding hollow boss 18, 19 to which each ball bearing 16, 17 is fitted.

As shown in FIG. l, a narrow gap is left between the front and rear end of each drive shaft 14, 21 and the tip of the corresponding projecting stop 98, 99 to allow some end play for each drive shaft 14, 21.

As shown in FIG. 3, each drive pulley 32, 33 which supports and drives the lower and upper timing belts, respectively, has a substantially circular shoulder 100, 101 integral therewith, the shoulder positively positioning the rear edge of each timing belt 38, 50 relative to the corresponding drive pulley 32, 33.

The cylindrical body of each of the belt drive pulleys 32, 33 is extended beyond the edge of the corresponding timing belt 38, 50, a set screw 37, or other type of locking "means being provided to locate the drive pulley relative to the drive shaft 14, 21 and fixedly attach the drive pulley tothe corresponding drive shaft, so that the drive pulley 32, 33 rotates with the drive shaft 14, 21 about the ball bearings 16, 17.

The label hopper 65 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in detail'in FIGS. 5 and 6 is of substantially rectangular cross-section, the interior of the label hopper following substantially the cross-sectional contour of the labels supported thereby.

, The label hopper comprises a rear wall 105 formed of relatively thin sheet metal, and a pair of side walls 106, 106a integral with and substantially perpendicular to the rear wall. A pair of front wall sections 108, 108a is integral with the forward edge of the side walls 106, 106a, a wide gap being formed between the front wall sections to facilitate the insertion of a stack of labels 53 into the hopper.

As shown in FIG. 3, a weight 66, the cross-sectional contour of which fits freely into the interior of the label hopper is inserted through the open top of the label hopper 65, against the top of the stack of labels 53.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a pair of bottom wall sections 73, 73a is integral with the front wall section and a portion of the rear wall of the label hopper, the bottom wall sections extending to a point a short distance from the center of the label hopper 65. A pair of substantially rectangular flanges 110, 11011, is integral with the bottom wall sections 73, 73a, of the label hopper, the flanges 110, 110a abutting the flat faces of the blade 67 and gripping the blade 67, therebetween.

The flanges 110, 110a of the label hopper have a central opening therethrough, which is fitted to a long stud 86, which is in turn fitted to the front and rear panels 10, 11 of the machine, the ends of the long stud 86, being threaded to receive nuts fitted to the ends thereof.

As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of spacer tubes 112, 112a is fitted to the long stud, each spacer tube extending between one flange 110, 110a of the label hopper 65 and the corresponding front or rear panel 10, 11 of the machine, the spacer tubes being adapted to clamp the two flanges 110, 110a against the blade 67, thereby clamping the blade 67 in the position shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, a pair of bottom wall ledges 114, 114a, the length of which is substantially equal to that of the left-hand front wall section 108 of the label hopper, FIG. 7, is integral with the front and rear walls 105, 108 of the hopper, respectively, and sub stantially perpendicular thereto, the bottom wall ledges 114, 114a being relatively narrow so they clear the front and rear edges of the flat pad 54 attached to the upper timing belt 50, as shown in FIG. 3.

The cross-sectional contour of the label support hopper may be varied, the hopper being increased in length or in width, to accommodate other types and contours of labels, or other types of gumrned sheets, which are attached to the envelopes.

The height of the label support hopper may be increased toaccommodate a higher stack of labels, the weight fitted to the hopper being adjusted to accommodate a larger stack of labels.

The timing belts may be of the integral cleat type, such as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a, or other type of cogged belt, or chain may be substituted therefor, provided the movement of the timing belt. is accurately synchronized with the particular drive pulley, used in conjunction therewith.

' The contour of the teeth of the drive pulleys 32, 33 may be varied to suit a particular type of cleat, or other driving means used in the corresponding timing belt.

The pads 45, 54, fitted to the timing belts 38, 50 may be made of rubber, or other type of compressible material, to enable the flat pads to follow the contour of the timing belts when they pass around the driving and driven pulleys.

The longer or lower timing belt may be fitted with a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and one or more intermediate pulleys, as shown in FIG. la, to accommodate a wide range of timing belt lengths, the intermediate pulleys being provided to accurately and positively support the envelope and the label supported therebetween, during the assembly operation.

The outer surface of the flat pads 45, 45a attached to the lower timing belt 38, and the outer surface of the flat pad 54, a portion of which is attached to the upper timing belt 50, may be corrugated, or serrated in the manner shown in FIGS. -1 and 3, or other types and forms of corrugations may be substituted therefor.

The construction of the moistening roller 69 may be varied considerably from that shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 10.

The moistening roller may be driven by a belt 76 of circular cross-section, such as that shown in FIGS. 1, by a flat belt, or other type of belt, which engages the outer surface of the portion of the upper timing belt which surrounds the driven pulley 51 of the upper timing belt.

The location of the pulleys 78, 79 used to tension the circular belt 76, which drives the moistening roller 69, relative to the upper timing belt 50, may be varied considerably, depending upon the type of timing belt used, and the specific means employed for driving the moistening roller, used in conjunction therewith.

The front and rear panels supporting the apparatus, may be made of aluminum castings, or other type of cast or forged material, or they may be molded of a suitable plastic material, or formed of sheet materials.

The shafts 14, 21 supporting the drive pulleys 32, 33 may be supported by ball-bearings in the manner shown in FIG. 3, or other type of support means, such as plain bushings and the like may be substitued therefor.

Radial adjustment means may be introduced on each of the ball-bearings fitted to the front and rear panels 10, 11 to enable the relative positions of the shafts 14, 21 to be adjusted, thus enabling the parallelism between the drive shafts 14, 21 to be maintained.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the specific deails described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications are possible in carrying out the features of the invention and the operation, actuation, synchronization, control, adjustment and method of utilization thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for attaching gummed sheets to flat articles, comprising means for storing a stack of gummed sheets at one end of the apparatus, means for storing a stack of flat articles near the opposite end of the apparatus, a timing belt adapted to individually select one of the flat articles from the storage means and convey said fiat article to a gummed sheet attaching position, a second timing belt, a portion of which is substantially parallel to and aligned with the first timing belt, said second timing belt being adapted to transfer a gummed sheet from the gummed sheet storage means to the gummed sheet attaching position, means mounted adjacent the second timing belt adapted to moisten the gummed surface of one of the gummed sheets, and means individually attached to each of the timing belts adapted to press a gummed sheet against the flat article located therebetween, while the timing belts are in aligned motion relative to one another, each of the timing belts being driven by an individual driving pulley, means for simultaneously driving one of said driving pulleys from the other driving pulley, and synchronizing the rate of rotation of said driving pulleys, each of the timing belts having a plurality of equally spaced cleats integral'with the under surface thereof, a driving pulley adapted to drive each of said timing belts, each of said driving pulleys having a. plurality of equally-spaced radially positioned teeth thereon, said teeth being adapted to engage the cleats of the timing belts to transfer the rotation of the drive pulleys to linear motion of the corresponding timing belt, means for driving one of the drive pulleys from the other driving pulley, and simultaneously synchronizing the rate of rotation of said pulleys.

2. An apparatus for attaching gummed labels to flat articles, comprising a pair of substantially parallel front and rear panels, means for storing a stack of gummed labels mounted adjacent one end of the panels, means for storing a stack of fiat articles mounted adjacent the opposite end of the front and rear panels, a timing belt supported by said front and rear panels, adapted to indi vidually select one of the flat articles fromthe flat article storage means and convey the flat article to a label attaching position, a second timing belt supported by said panels, a portion of said second timing belt being substantially parallel to and aligned with the first timing belt, said second timing belt being adapted to convey a gummed label from the label storage means to the label attaching position, means mounted adjacent the outer surface of the second timing belt adapted to moisten the gummed surface of one of the labels, and means individually attached to both of the timing belts adapted to press the label against the flat article located therebetween, while portions of the timing belts are in aligned motion relative to one another, each of the timing belts being driven by an individual driving pulley, each of said driving pulleys being supported by a rotatable shaft, a pair of anti-friction bearings supported by the front and rear panels rotatab-ly supporting each of said shafts, means for driving the first of said driving pulleys, means for simultaneously driving the second of said driving pulleys from the first driving pulley and synchronizing the rate of rotation of said driving pulleys, the means for storing a stack of flat articles being a fiat article support housing including a rear wall and a side wall, a substantially cylindrical rod supported by the front and rear panels, supporting the side wall of said housing, a block of compressible material attached to the cylindrical rod, one edge of said compressible block being located close to the outer surface of the first timing belt, to restrict the number of flat articles which can be fed from the flat article supply stack in the housing at one time, the length of the outer surface of the second timing belt being a multiple of the length of the outer surface of the second timing belt, the first of said timing belts having a plurality of relatively flat pads of a compressible material at tached to the nominally flat outer surface thereof, the number of flat pads corresponding to the length multiple of the first timing belt relative to the second timing belt, the second timing belt having a flat pad of a compressible material mounted adjacent the outer surface thereof, each of the flat pads attached to the first timing belt being adapted to grip one of the flat articles, and convey said fiat article to the gummed label attaching position, the flexible block attached to the cylindrical rod being adapted to be angularly displaced by one of the flat pads attached to the first timing belt to restrict to one the number of flat articles which may be conveyed by each pad attached to the first timing belt.

3. An apparatus for attaching gummed labels to flat articles, comprising a pair of substantially parallel front and rear panels, means for storing a stack of gummed labels mounted adjacent one end of the panels, means for storing a stack of flat articles, mounted adjacent the opposite end of the front and rear panels, a timing belt supported by said front and rear panels, adapted to individually select one of the flat articles from the flat article storage means and convey the flat article to a label attaching position, a second timing belt supported by said panels, a portion of said second timing belt being substantially parallel to and aligned with the first timing belt, said second timing belt being adapted to convey a gummed label from the label storage means to the label attaching position, means mounted adjacent the outer surface of the second timing belt adapted to moisten the gummed surface of one of the labels, and means individually attached to both of the timing belts adapted to press the label against the flat article located therebetween, while portions of the timing belts are in aligned motion relative to one another, the means for storing a stack of gummed labels being a label support hopper, the cross-sectional contour of which follows substantially the cross-sectional contour of the gummed labels to be supported thereby, a substantially cylindrical cross-rod, supported by the front and rear panels, supporting the label support hopper, means integral with the label support hopper adapted to be fitted to the cross-rod to grip the label support hopper, a substantially flat blade having a tip integral with one end thereof, mounted within the label support hopper and fixedly attached thereto, said blade being so positioned as to enable the tip of the blade to grip one end of the labels supported in the lower portion of the label support hopper, the second timing belt having a flat pad of a compressible material mounted adjacent the outer surface thereof, a portion of said flat pad being attached to the outer surface of the second timing belt, the outer surface of the fiat pad mounted adjacent the outer surface of the second timing belt being serrated, the serrated outer surface of the flat pad mounted adjacent the outer surface of the second timing belt being adapted to grip the free end of the bottom label mounted within the label support hopper, the blade in the label support hopper being adapted to simultaneous- 1y slit the end of the bottom label, opposite the end which isgripped by the flat pad attached to the second timing belt, the serrated surface of the flat pad being adapted to convey one of the gummed labels to the label attache ing position relative to the fiat article supported by the first timing belt.

4. An apparatus for attaching gummed labels to envelopes, comprising a pair of substantially parallel front and rear panels, means for storing a stack of gummed labels mounted adjacent one end of the front and rear panels, means for storing a stack of envelopes mounted adjacent the opposite end of the front and rear panels, a timing belt supported by the front and rear panels, said timing belt being adapted to individually select one of the enevlopes from the envelope storage means, and convey the envelope to a gummed label attaching position, a second timing belt supported by the front and rear panels, a portion of said second timing belt being substantially' parallel'to and aligned with the first timing belt, said second timing belt being adapted to convey a gummed label from the label storage means to the label attaching position relative to the first timing belt, means mounted adjacent the second timing belt adapted to moisten the gummed surface of one of the labels, and means individually attached to both the timing belts adapted to press a label against an envelope located therebetween, while portions of the timing belts are in aligned motion relative to one another, to press the individual label against the envelope, each of the timing belts having a plurality of equally-spaced cleats integral with the under surface thereof, a driving pulley adapted to drive each of said timing belts, each of said driving pulleys having a plurality of equally-spaced, radially positioned teeth integral therewith, said teeth being adapted to engage the cleats of the timing belts to transfer the rotation of the driving pulleys to linear motion of the corresponding timing belts, the second timing belt having a driven pulley fitted thereto, the driven pulley being substantially parallel to and of substantially the same pitch diameter as the driving pulley, the means adapted to moisten the gummed surface of the label being a hollow substantially cylindrical moistening roller, said moistening roller having a plurality of moistening rings of moisture absorbent material fitted to the outer circumference thereof, said moistening rings being adapted to engage the gummed surface of a label supported by the second timing belt, thereby to moisten the gummed surface of said label, a plurality of idler pulleys spacedly located relative to the moistening roller, and substantially parallel thereto, a belt fitted to the idler pulleys and the circumferential outer surface of the moistening roller to drive the mois tening roller, the outer surface of said moistening roller drive belt being adapted to engage a portion of the second timing belt, surrounding a portion of the driven pulley thereof, thereby to drive the roller drive belt and the moistening roller.

5. An apparatus for attaching gummed labels to envelopes, comprising a pair of substantially parallel front r r 14 r r r and rear panels, means for storing a stack of gummed labels mounted adjacent one end of the front and rear panels, means for storing a stack of envelopes mounted adjacent the opposite end of the front and rear panels, a timing belt supported by the front and rear panels, said timing belt being adapted to individually select one of the envelopes from the envelope storage means, and convey the envelope to a gummed label attaching position, a second timing belt supported by the front and rear panels, a portion of said second timing belt being substantially parallel to and aligned with the first timing belt, said second timing belt being adapted to convey a gummed label from the label storage means to the label attaching position relative to the first timing belt, means mounted adjacent the second timing belt adapted to moisten the gummed surface of the labels, and means individually attached to both of the timing belts adapted to press a label against an envelope located therebetween, while portions of the timing belts are in aligned motion relative to one another, to press the individual label against the envelope, each of the timing belts is driven by an individual driving pulley, each of said driving pulleys being supported by a rotatable shaft, a pair of anti-friction bearings supported by the front and rear panels rotatably supporting each of said shafts, means for driving the first of said driving pulleys, a pair of gears individually mounted on said rotatable shafts adapted to drive the second of said driving pulley support shafts from the first, and synchronize the rate of rotation of said pulley drive shafts, and means integral with the front and rear panels adapted to limit the axial movement of the ends of said rotating shafts.

6. An apparatus for attaching gummed labels to en-v velopes, comprising a pair of substantially parallel front and rear panels, means for storing a stack of gummed labels mounted adjacent one end of the front and rear panels, means for storing a stack of envelopes mounted adjacent the opposite end of the front and rear panels, a timing belt supported by the front and rear panels, said timing belt being adapted to individually select one of the envelopes from the envelope storage means, and convey the envelope to a gummed label attaching position, a second timing belt substantially parallel to and aligned with the first timing belt, said second timing belt being adapted to convey a gummed label from the label storage means to the label attaching position relative to the first timing belt, means mounted adjacent the second timing belt adapted to moisten the gummed surface of one of the labels, and means individually attached to each of the timing belts adapted to press a label against an envelope located therebetween, while portions of the timing belts are in aligned motion relative to one another, to press the individual label against the envelope, each of the timing belts having a plurality of equally-spaced cleats integral with the under surface thereof, a driving pulley adapted to drive each of said-timing belts, each of said driving pulleys having a plurality of equally-spaced, radially positioned teeth integral therewith, said teeth being adapted to engage the cleats of the timing belts to transfer the rotation of the driving pulleys to linear motion of the corresponding timing belts, the first of said timing belts having a driven pulley fitted thereto, substantially parallel to the driving pulley, the pitch diameter of the driven pulley being substantially equal to that of the driving pulley, to enable the upper and lower surfaces of the first timing belt to be fiat and substantially parallel to on another, the length of the outer surface of the first timing belt being a multiple of the length of the outer surface of the second timing belt, the first of said timing belts having a plurality of relatively flat pads of a compressible material attached to the outer surface thereof, the number of fiat pads corresponding to the length multiple of the first timing belt relative to the second timing belt, the second timing belt having a flat pad of a compressible material mounted adjacent the nominally flat outer surface thereof, a portion of said flat pad being fixedly attached to the outer surface of the second timing belt, each of the flat pads attached to the first timing belt being adapted to grip one of the envelopes and transfer said envelopeto the label attaching position, the flat pad mounted adjacent the second timing belt being adapted to grip one of the labels, and convey said label to the label attaching position relative to one of the pads attached to the first timing belt, the timing belts being adapted to press the surfaces of said flat pads against the envelope and the gummed label located therebetween, to attach the gummed label to tthe envelope.

7. An apparatus for attaching gummed labels to envelopes, comprising a pair of substantially parallel front and rear panels, means for storing a stack of gummed labels mounted adjacent one end of the front and rear panels, means for storing a stack of envelopes mounted adjacent the opposite end of the front and rear panels, a timing belt supported by the front and rear panels, said timing belt being adapted to individually select one of the envelopes from the envelope storage means, and convey the envelope to a gummed label attaching position, a second timing belt supported by the front and rear panels, a portion of said second timing belt being substantially parallel to and aligned with the first timing belt, said second timing belt being adapted to convey a gummed label from the label storage means to the label attaching position relative to the first timing belt, means mounted adjacent the second timing belt adapted to moisten the gummed surface of one of the labels, and means individually attached to both of the timing belts adapted to press a label against an envelope located therebetween, while portions of the timing belts are in aligned motion relative to one another, to press the individual label against the envelope, each of the timing belts having a plurality of equally-spaced cleats integral with the under surface thereof, a driving pulley adapted to drive each of said timing belts, each of said driving pulleys having a plurality of equally-spaced, radially positioned teeth integral therewith, said teeth being adapted to engage the cleats of V the timing belts to transfer the rotation of the driving pulleys to linear motion of the corresponding timing belts, the second timing belt having a driven pulley fitted thereto, the driven pulley being substantially parallel to and of substantially the same pitch diameter as the drive pulley, to enable the upper and lower surfaces of the second timing belt to be fiat and substantially parallel to one another, the length of the outer surface of the first timing belt being a multiple of the length of the outer surface of the second timing belt, the first of said timing belts having a plurality of relatively flat pads of a compressible material attached thereto, the number of flat pads corresponding to the length multiple of the first timing belt relative to the second timing belt, the second timing belt having a fiat pad of a compressible material position, the flat pad mounted adjacent the second timing belt being adapted to grip one of the labels, and convey said label to the label attaching position relative to one of the pads attached to the first timing belt, the timing belts being adapted to press the surfaces of said flat pads against the envelope and the label located therebetween, to attach the gummed label to the envelope.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hammel Aug. 5, 1952 La Rocca et al May 8, 1956 

